Ashes

This morning as I was building a fire in the wood stove, thoughts came to mind as I was carefully looking for ambers still alive from the night before.  There weren't many, and of those, they were tiny and almost void of heat.  As I stirred the ashes and found those tiny ambers here and there and piled them in the middle, then added small kindling particles, I could feel a rebirth of warmth.  When breath of air was added to it, it didn't take long for those near cold coals to burst into a flame.

Encouagement works this same way in the lives of believers.  Sometimes we get so weary from the fight that our lives do little to bring warmth to ourselves, much less anyone around us.  However, when just a few come together and begin to discuss God's living word, or when music in our ear reminds us of the power of His word, that breath of encouragement can quickly turn cold embers into flames of fire.

This was my experience this morning as I took Seth to work.  Just the day before, I had been voicing disbelief, comparing myself and my family to others, feeling inadequate...you know how the story goes, but was encouraged by my son.  As Seth spoke to me of how the story of Joseph was inspiring him, it breathed life giving encouragement to my soul and reproved me at the same time.

As I was headed back home, I continued to be encouraged by Chris Tomlin through these words:

Precious Cornerstone

Sure Foundation

You are faithful to the end

We are waiting on You Jesus

We believe you're all to us

Let the glory of you name

be the passion of the church

let the righteousness of God

be a holy flame that burns

Let the saving love of Christ

be the measure of our lives

We believe You're all to us

Holy son of God

Sent from heaven

Hope and mercy at the cross

You are everything, you're the promise

Jesus you are all to us.

It is God's righteousness in us that becomes the "holy flalme that burns" and the "saving love of Christ" should be the only "measure of our lives".   2 Corinthians 10:12 says "For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding."

I'm thankful that my thinking was set right for today.  If you are feeling weary from the fight, put praise and worship music in your ear, call a friend who will give you His word, or read the Psalms of David and adopt his habit of remembering God's works and wonders, it will comfort you

(Psalm 119:52).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LoXPhuDVp4U